Swallow Study Complete

Sorry I did not update to let you know that we had the swallow study today but they called last evening around 6pm to set a tentative date of today at 1 pm. They called me today at 10 am to let me know it was a go! Merrick did great w/ the procedure. He ate his food covered in barium like a champ! However he did have one of his coughing/choking episodes while there in front of the speech pathologist. (I will have to admit I was glad that this happened so she could see that this mama had not lost her mind!) She immediately listened to his airway which was clear thank goodness! She thought that the air way and esophagus looked normal but given his history of waking up at night w/ no consistency as to why, the choking/cough w/ no consistency as to why and getting 8 teeth in 2 wks time she believes he may have developed some gastric reflux or he may have a food sensitivity. Just an FYI so that things make more sense--teething can lower the immune system hence some kiddos getting diarrhea, fevers, runny noses, etc-or in Merrick's case irritate the stomach causing some reflux. If he is getting enough of the reflux this could cause his esophagus to become "numb" not cluing him in on that he has something to swallow resulting in the choking/coughing spells. So the game plan is that she is going to speak w/ our pediatrician about placing him on some reflux medication, wants us to take out all dairy from his diet for 3-4 days to see if this helps him at all, and start him on a vitamin called probiotics! The doctor I used to work for swears by these vitamins! These vitamins also help replenish the good bacteria in the stomach lining hopefully reducing the acid! I am very thankful that it is something this minor and that medication could help this problem. I was very fearful that there might be a blockage or mass of something causing him to choke! Please continue to pray for us when we come to mind that this choking/coughing episodes can give the lil guy relief via the medication, vitamins and diet changes. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers
Gratefully
The Taylors!